The Brussels Minister for Mobility acknowledged this week in the Brussels Parliament the scale of the problem of noise and vibration nuisance caused by the new “M7” metro trains on lines 1 and 5, following a question from Liberal MP Aurélie Czekalski.
Since early 2022, residents of Anderlecht, Molenbeek, Woluwe and Auderghem have been complaining about vibrations and noises disrupting their daily lives. This nuisance is caused by faulty wheels on the new trains, which wear out faster than expected and cause impacts with the rails.
STIB, the Brussels Region's public transport company, has implemented several measures to reduce the nuisance, including a system for detecting faulty wheels and a wheel replacement programme. However, these measures have not been enough to satisfy residents, who remain frustrated and angry.
The situation has become unbearable for residents, who are at breaking point. Lasting measures must urgently be put in place to stop this nuisance. Residents expect concrete action from STIB and the Brussels Government. They are calling in particular for the rapid replacement of all faulty wheels and compensation for those who have suffered damage.
“I really feel every metro train passing”, “I'm starting to suffer physically. I feel the metro in the morning while I'm in bed and my heart beats much faster when it shakes!”, “The Minister is doing absolutely nothing. Radio silence from STIB!”,… These are testimonies we received just a few days ago.
Within the MR group in the Brussels Parliament and with the support of local elected representatives from the various affected municipalities, we will continue to closely monitor this issue and stand alongside residents.